Sunday, February 22, 2009

Quick Tips to Save on Gas

Author: Tom Tessin

The time is right now when it comes to saving on the amount of gasoline that your vehicle consumes. There are many things that you can do that will cut down on how much your vehicle will use when it comes burning gasoline fruitlessly. You should make sure that your vehicle gets regular tune-ups, the spark plugs are kept clean and replaced when need; also make sure that you check your transmission fluid periodically. The motor to your vehicle will burn less gasoline if the above steps are kept up on a continuous basis. Your vehicle is just like a family member that needs constant care and consideration. Other things that can help you with your vehicle in saving on the gasoline are not expensive but a bit time consuming.



You need to make sure that the pressure in your tires is at the right amount by checking them monthly with a proper tire gage. The lack of enough air can cause you to have an accident that could be fatal as well as causing you to burn more gasoline. You should not set in long lines such as drive-ins for food or at banks as this causes your engine to use more gasoline. You should watch when you are in traffic back-ups to turn off the engine and restart it again when the traffic is flowing. It is not necessary to keep your motor idling as this burns more gasoline than when you start up your vehicle. Do not use an expensive gasoline this will not help you save on your gasoline expense. There are some very good fuel additives that will help you save on gas giving you better mileage and performance for your vehicle.



Many times people tend to speed up their vehicle on a major highway thinking that this will help save on gasoline it actually burns more gas. You need to keep your vehicle going at an even speed when doing highway driving. It is very wise to use your cruise control if your vehicle is equipped with one. You should also consider using a GPS as this will help you not to take longer alternative routes or get stuck on your regular route with traffic back-ups. The GPS tracker is great to prevent you from getting caught on a highway that has construction back-ups, resent accidents, or closed due to bad storms. You need to be aware of what is happening around you before you decide to take an alternate route and that is what a GPS tracker enables you to do. Take a few tips and you will find that you can save a lot on your gasoline consumption.



When it comes down to saving on gas, you have to remember that 99% of the time it's based on the user. If you drive wreck less and don't care about your gas consumption, your wallet is going to show it. There are many ways to save on gas. Do your research online and find some great ways to cut your gas bills by 25%.

About the Author:
Save on gas with gas cards at FINDgascards.com, where you can find even more of Tom's work.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/quick-tips-to-save-on-gas-785135.html

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

3 Tips To Reduce Your Electricity Bill

Janice Vancleave''s Electricity: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects

If you use electricity, chances are that you could reduce your electricity bill by making a few simple changes. And who doesn't use electricity? So, here are three things that you can do to slash your electricity bill.
1. Think about the way that you use electricity at home. Do you leave on lights or appliances in rooms that you are not even in? Do you make turning off lights when you leave a room a habit? Do you sometimes leave on the TV when you are not even watching it? Do you ever leave your computer on when you're not using it without putting it into power-save mode?

Think about everything in your house that uses electricity, such as lights, TVs, and stereos, and make sure you only use them when you need to, in order to eliminate wasted energy (that you pay for). Turn off lights in rooms that you are not in, TVs that you are not watching, and computers and stereos that you're not using. If you don't turn off your computer when you're not using it, at least put it into power-save mode or turn off the monitor. Making these changes will do a lot to lower those electricity bills.

2. Consider investing in energy-saving power utilities, such as light bulbs. Replacing your incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving options, such as fluorescent bulbs, will reduce your electricity bill by using less energy. I would recommend energy-saving, full-spectrum light bulbs as a replacement for incandescent bulbs, and a better option than compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

3. Use your appliances more efficiently:

Only use the washing machine when you have a full load of clothes to wash.
Minimize the use of the geyser.
Use your air conditioner as little as possible. When it's hot outside, keep the temperature at the highest possible temperature that still keeps you cool. When it's cold, keep the air conditioner at the lowest temperature that still keeps you warm.
That's our three tips for saving money on your electricity bill! If you start making these energy-saving tips into habits, you should definitely start seeing reduced electricity bills.

Did you know that it's easy to make your own alternative energy at home? It can help you eliminate your electricity bill completely. Try this guide to making your own power and stop paying for electricity.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Stop Throwing Money Out the Window

Have you ever felt your window as cold as ice during the winter or burning hot during the summer, while your heater (or air conditioner) is operating at full blast? If so, you are definitely throwing money out the window ! Consider making changes on your existing window, before you have to sell your heater (or A/C) to pay for energy bills.

Window technology has improved dramatically in recent years because of the conscious effort to save on energy. Below are some of the features to improve the thermal efficiency window.

1. Glazing.

Gone are the days when a window is made up of a frame, a glass pane and a latch. Today, energy-efficient window-designs require a minimum of two (2) layers of glass, called double-glazed windows. Double-glazing insulates almost twice as well as single glazing (single glass pane). It is also possible to add a third or fourth layer to further improve the results. Some of these windows use clear glass only; others opt to install additional layer of thin plastic films for tinting as well as further insulation.

2. Thickness of air space.

In between the two glass panes in a double-glazed window is a space filled with the air. With a thicker air space, the window will be better insulated because it will have a better transfer of heat. Thicknesses range from ¼ " to 1”. If the air is wider than 1”, however, there is no further gain in performance.

3. Type of air in the space.

Traditional double-glazed windows were filled with air or flushed with dry nitrogen to ensure that the air does not leak. In a sealed glass pane, heat is carried to the top of the air space while cold pools settle at the bottom. By filling the space with a less conductive gas like argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2), krypton (Kr), and argon-krypton mixtures, the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside is reduced. It should be noted that the thickness of the airspace also depends on the kind of gas that is used to fill it.

4. Edge spacers.

What holds the panes of glass apart are the edge spacers. These also provide the airtight seal in the window. Before, hollow-aluminum channels filled with desiccant beads were used as edge spacers. Since Aluminum is a highly conductive material, heat loss (or gain) is now occurring through the edges. Improvements to the material used include thin-walled steel with thermal breaks, or silicone foam or butyl rubber. A low-cost option when ordering windows would be to consider insulating edge seals with traditional aluminum spacers.

5. Low-E coatings.

Low-emittance (Low-E) coating are very thin, metal or metallic oxide layers set on a window glazing surface primarily to improve the heat transfer (reduce the U-factor). Heat is transferred in multilayer glass from a warm pane to a cooler pane. With a low-emittance coated material facing the air space between the glass layers, it blocks a significant amount of heat transfer, thus reducing the total heat flow through the window. Different types of low-e treatment are now available for different climate zones and different applications in any particular location.

Enough about the glass pane, let’s now focus on the materials surrounding the glass, the window frame. Different kinds of materials can be used for the encasement, depending on aesthetics (suits the design of the home), durability (resistance to storm, wind or extreme weather) and, of course, energy efficiency (U-factor).

Metals (aluminum, or light metal) for example are lightweight and easy to clean, but conducts heat rapidly. If metals must be used for window frames, ensure to place insulating material between the inside and outside of the frame and sash.

Wood (natural and composite) have better thermal properties, but must be treated for moisture and termite decay. Natural wood also contracts and expands through weather changes and can be heavy and thick, thus reducing the view and light passing through.

Plastics (fiberglass, PVC, vinyl) have the highest thermal resistance as compared to the previous, especially if treated with insulation. It has good moisture resistance and need no painting because color treatment is already incorporated in its production. However, at extreme temperatures, they may expand, warp or crack. Also, if exposed to sunlight for long hours, colors tend to fade over time.

Lastly, here are simple steps to ensure you are buying an energy-efficient window:

a. Look for NFRC label as your guide to energy performance (U-rating) and to suit your climate, before buying a window.

b. Choose windows with good warranties against the loss of the air seal. If the glazing seal is lost, not only will fogging occur, but also any low-conductivity gas between the layers of glass will immediately be lost.

c. Hire only skilled contractors to install your new windows. This will ensure that they will perform as well as they should.

What else are you waiting for? STOP throwing money OUT YOUR WINDOW!


© 2006 All Rights Reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included. http://www.MyHomeEnergySavings.com

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Hydrogen Fuel System Saving Money For Your Car

For many years now, scientists and researchers are trying to find out an alternative source of fuel energy for cars. They have reached conclusive studies after many years. The fact is, cars won't run without fuel. But through a hydrogen fuel system, you can raise gas mileage and at the same time cut down gasoline expenses.

Automotive companies and hundreds of researchers are offering a very effective solution... hydrogen fuel system. What is the system all about?

If you own a car, this is the best time to use the hydrogen fuel system because it can save you a lot of money. You don't have to purchase a new car. All you need to do is to make some changes and put some additional parts. After that, your car will have added power. Major oil companies will be the very first ones affected by this new system.

If you think the system costs a lot, you're wrong because you will only need over a hundred dollars for a single fuel cell. Installation is also not a big problem because you can do it by yourself with ease. The system will not cost you over $180. If you want a more durable and smooth car engine, why not incorporate the said system in your car?

Your search for a cost-effective way to fuel your car has ended. The hydrogen fuel system can give you a lot of benefits. Firstly, your gasoline expenses will decrease. Secondly, you can help in improving the current status of the environment. You car will not emit a large amount of greenhouse gases thereby decreasing pollution.

Even if the hydrogen fuel system is advanced, it is easy to understand it works effectively. Instead of depending solely on gas, you will also be using water to power the car engine. Hydrogen from water will be extracted to provide the car with additional power to lessen the consumption of gas. You can easily install the system in your car.

You will have cleaner emissions because the byproducts of hydrogen fuel system are water and oxygen. But with an internal combustion engine, your car will give off carbon emissions and even carbon deposits. If you want to help in the current global warming problems, install a hydrogen fuel system as soon as possible.

Global warming and very high gas prices are quite alarming and these are the reasons why a lot of car owners today want to take advantage of the hydrogen fuel system. If you want to increase mileage by 87%, use the system; the same thing if you want 45-53% car efficiency.
Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen

Car owners who are now using hydrogen fuel systems are enjoying decreased gas costs. If you want to experience the same thing, why don't you purchase a hydrogen fuel cell kit now? Simply follow the instructions included in the kit and put together the various parts properly.

After installation, you can now run your car using water or gasoline. You can't get rid of gasoline entirely but the cost of running a car will definitely decrease by more or less 50%. Besides, hydrogen fueled cars run longer distances.

Hydrogen fuel systems are not new. If you want to know more about it, you can search the net for related information. By doing some research, you will discover that a lot of people are already making use of the said system.

Friday, December 5, 2008

5 Frugal

If you have a family budget worked out, you know how hard it is to stick to it without having some real concrete plans and strategies to stretch your money as far as it will go. Usually, the first area we can squeeze a few extra dollars out of our wallets is on groceries. I'd like to introduce you to your new partner in your frugal endeavor, the black bean.

If you find yourself wandering aimlessly through the aisles of your grocery store, looking for something to make for dinner that won't break your budget, take a detour over to the black bean display and check out the price. Considering that black beans are loaded with nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, and potassium, and they are high in fiber, and low in fat and sugar, they really offer a lot of bang for your buck. It's obvious that black beans should be a staple in every household, frugal or not. So, let's think up a few simple meals to create with your new best friend... the black bean.

1) Black Bean Cottage Cheese Salad

A simple but delicious use for black beans is turning it into a creamy salad. Put a 1 scoop of cottage cheese in a serving bowl, and sprinkle a little salt and freshly ground black pepper on top. Then top with some drained and rinsed canned black beans, about 1/2 cup. Add a bit of chopped celery to the mix and you have a great, crunchy, creamy lunch, packed with protein, calcium, iron and fiber.

2) Bountiful Bean Salad

You'll be choosing your favorite canned beans for this salad, keeping in mind color and texture; favorites like black beans, butter beans, navy beans, kidney beans, waxed beans, and whatever else you like. Drain and rinse all the beans and put them in a large serving bowl. To the beans, add some sweet onion, or green onion including the tops, chopped celery, freshly chopped parsley, maybe some fresh rosemary, or whatever herb you like, and top it all with a little shake or two of a very good vinaigrette salad dressing, I use Paul Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette. You've got yourself a kid-friendly and nutritious salad.

3) Use-It-Up Black Bean Burrito

If you have a few staples in your pantry you can whip up this simple burrito. You'll need a flour or corn tortilla, either heated or not, that's up to you. Drain and rinse your black beans, then start building your burrito however you want. I add black beans, some diced tomatoes, a little onion, lots of shredded cheddar cheese, a little sour cream, leftover rice, some chopped up pieces of chicken from last night, and whatever else I have to use up. Depending on how I feel that day, I go a little heavier on the black beans and lighter on the other stuff. Get your salsa or taco sauce ready and enjoy.

4) Simple Four Bean Soup

What you'll need for the beans is 1 can each, black beans, garbanzo beans, butter beans, and navy beans (although you may substitute your favorite beans for any of those). Drain each can and set aside. Into a large pot, pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil, add 1 cup finely chopped celery and 1 cup of diced onion. Cook on medium low until celery is just tender. Next add 1 clove of garlic, either minced, crushed, or grated, and let cook for just one minute. Then throw all your beans into the pot. Add 1 small can of fire roasted diced tomatoes and 1 small can chicken broth. Simmer nice and slow for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. It's done!

5) 30 Second Black Beans with Taco Seasoning

Try it and I guarantee you'll be wondering why you haven't thought of this before. My daughter was the person who "invented" this recipe in our family, and now we're all sold on it. Simply drain and rinse a can of black beans. If you have those little packets of taco sauce laying around, leftovers from carry-out, just squeeze a few in your black beans, give it a toss, and you have an incredibly delicious side dish that is sure to please. You'll have to try this one to believe it. You might want to try some hot salsa instead of the taco sauce, but use only a little, just enough to flavor the beans. (Throw some shredded cheddar on top and you're set.)
Seven Bean Mix - 15 lb Seven Bean Mix: GR

There are countless ways to enjoy our new friend, the black bean. You will easily be able to take the five ideas I've listed here and add your own personal flair to create black bean dishes to suit any taste, even your family's most finicky eater.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Run Your Car On Water To Save Gas And Money

Run your car on water - at first it sounds like a science fiction or a gas company's biggest nightmare. However, stories are popping up everywhere, even on Fox News, about this phenomenon that promises to dramatically reduce your gas usage and, as a result, to save you hundreds of dollars a month. Before you decide whether you want to attempt converting your car so it can run on water, you may want to learn a little bit more about the process.

How Does a Car Run on Water?

First, you need to understand that your car won't run solely on water. What you're actually going to create is known as a water hybrid. If you remember high school chemistry, you'll probably recall that water consists of two molecules: hydrogen and oxygen. A process known as electrolysis is used on the water so the hydrogen and oxygen can be used to run the car. Water vapor is the only waste product and that is emitted from the car into the atmosphere.

Is the Process Dangerous?

The answer is no. Of course, you don't want to ignite the hydrogen or anything like that but really the process is no more dangerous than driving around with gasoline in your tank. Some experts believe using water can actually make your car safer because you won't be carrying around as much volatile gasoline in your car. Think of it this way: you can get burned from boiling water but when gasoline ignites you get plenty more than a burn.

Does the Process Really Save Money?

Yes but how much you save depends on the type of vehicle you have. Remember you'll still need to use gasoline in your vehicle because the combustion in the engine is what powers the rest of the water hybrid process. You just won't need to use as much gas. The larger your vehicle the more gas you're still going to need. If you already drive a fuel efficient car or a four cylinder vehicle, then you'll see a more dramatic reduction than if you're driving an SUV or mammoth truck. That's not to say you won't save money - you still will but you'll need to use more gas in comparison to fuel the process. You might also save money in other ways though. Water burns cooler than gasoline so your engine will end up lasting longer and undergoing less damage over time. That means you'll save money on repairs.

How Can I Make my Car Run on Water?

First, you'll need a conversion guide. These guides can be purchased online. Videos are also available on the Internet that will walk you through the steps. If you or someone you know is comfortable with basic car maintenance, then completing the conversion should be no problem. Second, you'll need to purchase some equipment. The materials required will probably cost you less than filling up your tank at current gas prices. You can find them at most auto part stores on- or off-line. Overall, the conversion process is simple and provides numerous benefits. The best part is that it's completely reversible so if you're unhappy with the results you don't have to live with the change until you buy a different car.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Easy Ways to Save In Your Small Business

You’ve heard it over and over again: The lack of cash flow is the number one reason most businesses fail. So it follows that every small and home-based business owner should know how to stretch a dollar. Here are seven of the easiest ways to rein in your business expenses:

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle
Rethink how you use and acquire resources. Do you toss out paper printed on only one side, or buy new toners instead of refilling the old ones as often as possible? Or do you waste money on inadequate data storage such as CD-Rs and DVD-Rs? You could save money by using flash drives, DVD-RWs and CD-RWs, which you can use multiple times without losing data.

Also, instead of shelling out extra money or going into debt to purchase new computers, printers or faxes, buy refurbished models instead. Many of these tech goods are refurbished to a high standard and may come with guarantees from the sellers. Or, you can simply replace the parts of your computer system that need replacing, rather than buying entirely new systems. These budget moves are also good ways to green your business.

2. Sign up for an office supply store card or newsletter
Some stationery suppliers such as Grand & Toy offer discounts to card members. In some cases you can save as much as 35 per cent on the supplies you need. Other merchants, such as Staples, offer weekly discounts that you can learn about through their newsletters or flyers. Some suppliers even throw in free delivery within their local area if your order exceeds a certain amount.

Also, don’t forget about Costco. This big-box store sells electronics, computers and accessories, and stationery supplies at highly competitive prices.

3. Don't always go with what you know
This requires getting out of your comfort zone. Take phone services; many people are still using traditional phone services for their businesses instead of cheaper services such as Vonage, Yahoo VoIP, or Skype. Some stick with their phone company’s long distance plan when they could save money by signing up with a competitor. Or some peope use the company that insures their homes to insure their businesses. But are they getting the best deal?

Often, people fear the paper work or the time it takes to set up a new service. One way around this is to ask your current provider to match a competitor’s price. Otherwise, you will have to decide if the potential savings of switching to a cheaper service outweigh the cons.

4. Hire the right people
You’ve probably heard the saying “be slow to hire and quick to fire.” This little nugget goes a long way when it comes to saving money. It takes a lot of time and money to search for and train a new employee. While small business owners are often overwhelmed and tempted to hire quickly, you shouldn’t shortcut the hiring process.

To trim your hiring expenses, be clear about what the job entails, your expectations, your business policies, and the skills the employee must have. If you can, get the employee to demonstrate their skills during the hiring process (for instance design a web page or database for you, or create a promotional brochure for one of your products) to see if they meet your standards.

Finetuning your hiring process also applies when you’re shopping for service providers on freelance sites. Don’t hire just anyone because you need to turn around a project quickly. If that provider screws up, you’ll have to pay someone else to fix their work. Or, you’ll have to do it yourself. How much is your time worth?

5. Shop online
Many stores, including book, furniture, software and computer stores, offer deals online that are not available in their bricks-and-mortar businesses. Some of these discounts can be substantial, up to 50 per cent off. Also, you can take advantage of deep discounts from resellers, whose prices often beat prices you’ll find in regular stores.

Online savings aren’t limited to products, however. You can also save on services, such as business incorporation, travel arrangements or freelance help.

6. Be a smart banker
Bank officials are great at promoting services with bells and whistles for your business account. Tune them out. Instead, choose the most basic account that gives you all the services you need. Get the generic checks, use ATMs, and bank online as much as possible.

Banks use advanced security technology to create a safe online banking environment, so the risk is low. Also, banking online saves you valuable time you can devote to other duties.

7. Keep your company logo simple
You can quickly rack up additional printing costs for business cards and letterhead if your logo has more than two colours. Keep it simple. Two colors don’t have to mean boring (think of CNN’s logo or the Nike swoosh). A vivid concept executed with sophistication can be just as powerful. Also, if you don’t have a quality laser printer at your disposal, you should find an affordable printing shop to do the job. You want your cards to be cheap, not look it.

Keeping your eyes on the bottom line can seem tedious at times. But as it becomes a habit you’ll find it easier. Plus, you’ll enjoy using those savings in other critical areas of your business.